Conformal Field Theory, (2+1)-Dimensional Gravity, and the BTZ Black Hole
arXiv:gr-qc/0503022 · doi:10.1088/0264-9381/22/12/R01
Abstract
In three spacetime dimensions, general relativity becomes a topological field theory, whose dynamics can be largely described holographically by a two-dimensional conformal field theory at the ``boundary'' of spacetime. I review what is known about this reduction--mainly within the context of pure (2+1)-dimensional gravity--and discuss its implications for our understanding of the statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics of black holes.
50 pages, LaTeX; draft of review article -- comments, corrections, additions, complaints welcomed; v2: more and better references, minor additions; v3: more references; v4: minor typos corrected to match published version